"But I do wish the South could be whipped to-morrow, and be made to stay in the Union."
"Well, now you are talking sense," said Harry, releasing his hold of Charles's collar. "Of course, I know you don't mean what you say, but I was bound to make you say a good word for the Union before I let you off. I have one more favor to ask of you, and then I am done. Will you oblige me by giving three cheers for the boys who are fighting our battles—every day risking their lives in defense of the old flag?"
Charles hesitated.
"I sha'n't ask you but once more, then," and here Harry pointed to the water, in a very significant manner.
Charles, knowing that he was in earnest, and that there was no escape, gave the required cheers with as good a grace as he could command.
"That's right," said Harry, approvingly. "Now I have done with you, and you can thank your lucky stars that you have got off so easily. If you had been in the army when you said what you did a few moments since, the boys would have hung you to the very first tree they could have found. Now, take my advice, and don't let me hear of your uttering any more such sentiments as long as I remain in the village; if you do, I'll duck you as often as I can get my hands on you."
Harry then sprang into his own skiff, and Charles sullenly picked up his oars, and pulled toward home.
"There," exclaimed Harry, "I feel better now. I worked off a little of my indignation on that fellow. The rascal! to tell us that George ought to be starved for helping to maintain the government, and that he didn't care whether the Union went to ruin or not. Now that I think of it, I'm sorry that I let him off so easily."
"He was pretty well punished, after all," said Frank. "It will have the effect of making him a little more careful."
At noon, the fish stopped biting, and the boys started for home. They parted at the boat-house, after Frank had promised to call and say "good-by" before he left in the morning.